Backhand Index Pointing Left: Dark Skin Tone

When someone says 'I alighted on that idea,' it sounds fancy but means they just hit upon it. It feels a bit pretentious, like they're dressed up for a tea party in a house that's still sorting out its cupboards. In social media, it’s like adding ‘#deliberatelyvague’ to a post about someone else’s life choices.

Calling something ‘bleak’ isn’t just describing the weather,it’s a mood. It’s the kind of word that shows up in a teenager’s diary entry about their parent’s new partner or a news headline about the latest economic struggle. For older folks, it might mean their local shop closed again, just like the last three years.

To say something went ‘sideways’ is like saying the entire day collapsed into a mess. It’s common in workplaces after a big project falters or when a manager says one thing and does another. In relationships, it might mean one partner’s decision to move in with someone else, while still paying the bills on the old place.

‘Backhand’ gets used in all sorts of arguments,not just tennis. It’s like when someone says one thing but does another, such as a coworker thanking you for your help while eyeing the next promotion you might take. In politics, it’s the kind of compliment that usually comes before a betrayal.

‘Downs syndrome’ is often said with care, but sometimes with hesitation. For families, it’s both a medical term and a way of explaining their new child. In public, it can be used in the same breath as ‘retarded’ but with a dash of ‘I’m progressive, see?’ In workplaces, it means ‘we’re diverse’ but might not come with full inclusion.